“The Playboy Club” still has over a month to go before it premieres, but its cast and producers are already defending it.

The NBC show, featuring plenty of scantily-clad actresses, is about the women who worked at Hugh Hefner’s famous Chicago club as bunnies in the '60s. Critics (including The Parents Television Council) say the show is too sexual and is setting women back, reports E! Online.

“These women were using so much more than [their bodies],” cast member Naturi Naughton says. “It’s empowering, because these girls were smart, they’re going to school, they’re buying homes, property – things that show what women couldn’t do at the time, using resources and relying on themselves.”

The network also wants viewers to know that many former Playboy bunnies have gone on to great careers and noted a range of them, from journalist Barbara Walters and model Lauren Hutton to rock star Deborah Harry, at the Television Critics Association press tour.

“I have yet to meet an ex-bunny who is disgruntled about her experience,” notes one of the show’s stars, Amber Heard.

Judge for yourself when “The Playboy Club” premieres September 19 on NBC.

soundoff(24 Responses)

Gmack

None of the women who worked at the Playboy clubs were forced to work there. I'm guessing they wanted to be bunnies and wanted to be noticed. It was their choice to work there and they could choose to quit. I hate when people unnecessarily make others out to be martyrs.

I was a bunny in the 60's. They had rooms where we could take the high rollers to earn a good tip. The amount wasn't discussed ahead of time but a beej could get you a $100 tip which was a lot of money back then.

What was empowering in the 60's is not necessarily empowering today! Why do you assume they hooked up with their customers or Hef? Maybe some did, but from what I remember reading about this, they had very strict rules & had to comport themselves with respect! I think this show will show young women today, what we've had to overcome to be treated as equals in society & the workplace! I'm looking forward to it!!

I would have watched the show, but now that i know that guy is married to UGLY HORSEHEAD RIMES... One can only hope he has an affair with one of his co-worker Bunnys and destroys their marriage and she stops taking pictures of herself and GIVING them to the tabloids....

Empowering? The girls wear bunny costumes and serve drinks to men and I'm assuming sleep with their customers as well or at least with Hugh Hefner. How empowering. Don't blow smoke up our rears. If you really wanted to make a show about female empowerment, these bimbos are probably at the bottom of the list. And if this does turn out to be a male bashing show like Mad Men then it will just be another pointless fantasy where female characters are smarter than the men who demean them. I give it half a season. That said, Amber Heard is hot!

I've secretly wanted to be a Playboy Bunny, & now it's not a secret anymore! There's no Playboy Club either! I loved those costumes with the ears & the tail! So cute & kinda s.e.x.y. too! Oh well, I guess I'll watch the show & live vicariously!!

im glad i dont support nbc with viewership and therefore will not be paying for this to be on the air. besides my support is going to the walking dead and the new tales from the crypt series returning to hbo..

Yes, it's a known fact. Barbara Walters was one of the first bunnies, except in her days, they were called Playboy Foxes. But even back then, Babs had saggy ta ta's & had to hop over them, so Hef decided they would now be called Playboy Bunnies